GRAHAM KAVANAGH is dreaming of a dramatic return this season .

GRAHAM KAVANAGH is dreaming of a dramatic return this season . . . with Cardiff City in the Division One play-offs.

The Bluebirds skipper had surgery three weeks ago to cure an ankle injury and was resigned to sitting on the sidelines until the summer.

But he has watched with delight from the sidelines as City have won four of their last five matches to suddenly revive their play-off hopes.

The Bluebirds hope to keep the run going at Millwall tonight, with Kavanagh keeping his fingers crossed again.

"At the moment I haven't written off my season. If my rehab goes well, then I might get a game or two before the season finishes," he said.

"We've got a chance of getting into the play-offs and the thought of being involved is keeping me going."

Lennie Lawrence's men will cut the gap between them and the top six to just two points tonight if they win their game in hand against cup finalists Millwall at the New Den.

"Maybe being fit for the play-offs - if we're involved - might seem a little optimistic, but it gives me a target to push for," said Kavanagh, whose last game was the home defeat against Coventry on March 2.

"When I was told my recovery after the surgery would be a six-week period, I thought I wasn't going to play again until August.

"But you never know what might happen. I'm off the crutches and I hope to be back jogging a week Monday.

"I will have a better idea in about a fortnight's time of whether I can come back this season.

"After winning three games back-to-back, the players have put themselves in a great position and this match at Millwall is a massive one for us."

Prior to his surgery, Kavanagh had been in excellent form this season and, if City did secure a play-off spot, his return would give the Bluebirds a massive lift.

But he went on, "I'm not going to risk breaking down again by rushing back before I'm 100 per cent fit.

"If we're in the play-offs and I'm back, then it's because I'm okay to play. There is no way I'm going to cut any corners."

Kavanagh admitted City, gunning for a fourth successive league win at the New Den after beating Crewe, Sheffield United and Gillingham, have been coping very well without him.

"The team is definitely capable of getting into the play-offs without me. There are some good players at the club," he said. "They don't seem to be missing me at the moment. They are doing well and playing with quite a lot of confidence.

"The home win over Sheffield United a couple of weeks ago was our best performance in ages."

City's fate will be decided in the last seven matches - starting against Dennis Wise's Millwall this evening.

"If we win five of those games, or win four and draw two of them, then that might be enough for us," explained Kavanagh.

"If we can finish with 72 or 73 points, then we have a great chance of getting into the play-offs."

City were given a boost when Millwall's player-manager Wise ruled himself out with knee trouble.

Lawrence's men were boosted further by the news that their own injury doubt, Danny Gabbidon, should be fit after recovering from foot trouble.